18 weeks trying to mate 10 week old

[HeathenHavenHomestead]

Never heard of a California Tan. Sounds like another Production hybrid, so that explains the early laying.

I’ve heard it was a White Leghorn bred with something else I can’t remember to create the Cali Tan. Definitely a hybrid breed.

 

[NatJ]

We actually have 5 cockerels total right now
I do know it’s too many but my MIL basically told me to wait it out to pick the best and cull the rest. But that was when we had more Pullets before a dog massacre happened. Otherwise we have culled 1 bringing us down to 5 and it was the other RIR and he started attacking our daughter so he had to go.

If you have once good cockerel, one causing problems, and three others, I would definitely butcher the one that's causing problems. That will leave you with the good one and (for now) three extras.

On the whole I would agree with your MIL's advice. You may not be able to tell which one is best at this age, but I think you can recognize and remove some of the worst (the child-attacker) and the not-so-good (the one currently under discussion.)

This one is showing problematic behavior, and might injure the younger pullets, so for their safety I think he should be removed.

 

[NatJ]

Never heard of a California Tan. Sounds like another Production hybrid, so that explains the early laying.

https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/cms/breed-directory-b
California Tan is listed on this TSC page of breeds. The photo looks to me like a White Leghorn, but the description says the eggs are cream to tan in color.

 

[MysteryChicken]

https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/cms/breed-directory-b
California Tan is listed on this TSC page of breeds. The photo looks to me like a White Leghorn, but the description says the eggs are cream to tan in color.

Says is a High Producer, so that says enough.

 

[RobinGel]

I’m just not sure what to do with this one trying to mate the 10 weeks and he’s also attempted to mate the 18 week ones as well but our lead quickly shut that down.

Is it just because of the unbalance in cockerels to pullets? He just picked one that was easier to grab and not of interest to the lead cockerel? Is this bad chicken behavior?

I would butcher this guy with no manners immediately. He'll make good stock for the freezer.

You already have a well mannered fellow then keep him. You really need more hens for 2 roosters.

Yes that pulling on the little girls is bad behavior and most likely he won't develop any manners. In my experience having 2 roosters is a constant testosterone battle all at the expense of the hens. That pulling quickly develops into the 2 guys over mating the hens. If you're not breeding & hatching then 1 well mannered guy is all you need. If you're intention is to breed them both then you may just need a separate pen for them.

Hope that helps!

 

[HeathenHavenHomestead]

If you have once good cockerel, one causing problems, and three others, I would definitely butcher the one that's causing problems. That will leave you with the good one and (for now) three extras.

On the whole I would agree with your MIL's advice. You may not be able to tell which one is best at this age, but I think you can recognize and remove some of the worst (the child-attacker) and the not-so-good (the one currently under discussion.)

This one is showing problematic behavior, and might injure the younger pullets, so for their safety I think he should be removed.

I’m most worried of him injuring the younger Pullets ):
We will be hitting the freezer soon.
My husband seems so attached to him all but we need to make hard choices.

 

[HeathenHavenHomestead]

I would butcher this guy with no manners immediately. He'll make good stock for the freezer.

You already have a well mannered fellow then keep him. You really need more hens for 2 roosters.

Yes that pulling on the little girls is bad behavior and most likely he won't develop any manners. In my experience having 2 roosters is a constant testosterone battle all at the expense of the hens. That pulling quickly develops into the 2 guys over mating the hens. If you're not breeding & hatching then 1 well mannered guy is all you need. If you're intention is to breed them both then you may just need a separate pen for them.

Hope that helps!

We definitely have too many cockerels and my main concern was over breeding. With it coming into fall I don’t want to get more chicks as I’ve read they don’t have enough time before winter and become quick snacks for predator birds.
I’ll let my husband know we need to remove him and consider removing the others.
the part that stinks is we just took a few weeks to doctor up our lowest rank chicken so we’re feeling sensitive about having to later remove him but he currently won’t get near the hens and is the bottom of the order.

 

[Salixx]

I watch a breeder on YouTube and really liked their selection methods for show and breeding cockerels. It was a calm, well mannered boy that could be handled.

They also only kept cockerels that asked for permission to mate with a hen/pullet with they’re little wing dance.

Final determination was size how they fit in the standard.

The first two really rang true with me.it happens that my problem cockerel was not only aggressive towards me but he also forces himself on my girls. Really solidified that he had to go.

His two brothers will dance for the girls and have never so much as looked cross at me.

 

[HeathenHavenHomestead]

I watch a breeder on YouTube and really liked their selection methods for show and breeding cockerels. It was a calm, well mannered boy that could be handled.

They also only kept cockerels that asked for permission to mate with a hen/pullet with they’re little wing dance.

Final determination was size how they fit in the standard.

The first two really rang true with me.it happens that my problem cockerel was not only aggressive towards me but he also forces himself on my girls. Really solidified that he had to go.

His two brothers will dance for the girls and have never so much as looked cross at me.

I have noticed our lead dancing for the girls sometimes they ignore him and continue eating and he just joins them in eating it’s pretty dang cute.

 

[ElizaMay]

I’m sure this has been discussed before but for some reason I have a really hard time using the search engine on BYC.

Nothing ever comes up of relevance to what I’m trying to search. I usually wind up googling what I’m looking for then actually getting close to an article on BYC that I need.

Anyways I have a 18 week old RIR that I saw try to pin down and mate with a 10 week old pullet. I really wouldn’t have believed it had I not seen it. I’ve seen him continue to harass the chicks even though they have been free ranging together for a month now. But after seeing him try to pin her I’m unsure what I should do?

Our ratio of cockerels to Pullets is a little heavy. We do need to eliminate some cockerels but I want solid reasons why they aren’t “good enough” before deciding their fate. Basically I don’t want to decide at random and end up with some unsavory boys that aren’t very good to the flock.

Our lead cockerel is great. He only mates with our ready pullets that are also 18 weeks, he’s a good “daddy” to the smallest ones (10 weeks) and he’s a dang good crower. Everyone gets along including the additional cockerels - everyone has found their place basically.

I’m just not sure what to do with this one trying to mate the 10 weeks and he’s also attempted to mate the 18 week ones as well but our lead quickly shut that down.

Is it just because of the unbalance in cockerels to pullets? He just picked one that was easier to grab and not of interest to the lead cockerel? Is this bad chicken behavior?
I’m thinking of chicken for dinner so just want to make sure before making a bad call?

He's picking the weakest to force hs attentions on, beccsuse he cannot have older more aggressive hens or ones the lead roo defends. I'd pen him separately.